Fluid control valve mechanism



K. s. CLAPP FLUID. CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Oct. 23, 1945.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29. 1943 w. 23,1945. K. s. CLAPP 2,387,234

FLUID CONTROL VALVE MECHANfSM Filed Jan. 29, 1943 2 Sheets-Sha e; 2

71 was!" mam INVENTOR. (M/671/ 5. CMPP j ww Patented Oct. 23, 1945 UNITED. STATE 2,387,234 FLUlD CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Kenneth S. Clapp, Shaker Heights, "Ohio Application January'ZQ, 1943, Serial No. 473,976

12 Claims. (Cl. 121-447) This invention relates to a control valve mechanism for automatically governing the movement of a reciprocating piston in a fluid motor pump. Fluid motors may comprise the rotary type or the reciprocating type and in this application my invention will be described as being applied to a reciprocating fluid motor, although my invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

A reciprocating fluid motor generally comprises a cylinder having a piston reciprocating inside the cylinder and may be employed to actuate a dispensing material pump for dispensing liquids, or viscous and semi-plastic materials. While my invention will be'described with reference to a dispensing material pump, it is to be understood that my control valve mechanism may be employed to govern the movement of a fluid motor which may actuate devices other than a dispensing material pump. a v

The fluid, which supplies energy or movement to the piston, is usually compressed air, such compressed air being available in most places where pumps of this type are to be operated.

Fluid motor actuated piston pumps are chiefly used for dispensing lubricants, under high or low v pressure, to the bearings and wearing parts of vehicles and machinery. However, pumps of this design and construction can also be used for dispensing putty, caulking compounds, sealing materials, and other viscous or semi-plastic materials.

The cylinder of a reciprocating motor has an orifice in its upper head and one in the lower head, so as to admit compressed air on one side of the piston and simultaneously exhaust the air on the opposite side of the piston. This. requires a valve mechanism which performs four functions for automatic reciprocation of the fluid piston and which will be explained in more detail when giving a complete description of my invention.-

All pumps of this class rely upon a mechanical connection between the movements'of the fluid motor to actuate the fluid control valve mechanism when the fluid piston has reached either the top or bottom length of its stroke.

My invention completely divorces all mechanical and leverage actions between the fluid'com trol valve mechanism and any moving parts of the fluid moto and pump. When a mechanical or leverage connection is used, the pump often stalls at the end of the top or bottom stroke be cause of wear in themechanical connections or the loss of spring tension failing to move the control valve.

My invention shows an entirely new principle r a motor to atmosphere when the moving'element of the main motor is arrested inorderthat the which:

Figure'l is a longitudinal side elevational; view 3 v in the design and operation of a valve mechanism, which is economical to manufacture and positive 1 in operation. I Y

One of the main objects of my invention is the; complete elimination of .any mechanical connecv tions or levers between the fluid motor 'o'r'pump:

and the valve control mechanism.

Another object of my invention is'to provide a continuous moving valve which is self cleanin and self-lapping. a

Another object of my invention is the provision I I of operating the control mechanism by the fluid which drives the fluid motor; A

Another object of my invention is the-provision of actuating the control under pressure.

Another object of my invention is toprovide for the operation of a control-valve mechanism by a pilot fluid motor.-

Another object of my invention is the provision i a of a control valve mechanism in combination with a main fluid m0tor-"wliich governstheoperation of the main fluid motorand which ispropelled by a pilot fluid motor that-receives energyfrom the same fluid that drives the n'ia'ir'i' mo'tor,

Another object of my invention is to provide a control valve mechanism, which receives motive energy from a pilot motor and which governs the operation of a main fluid motor, the valve mechanism by-passing the fluid from the main pilot motor may continue to receive 'motive energy from the in-coming fluid'and continue to operate the valve mechanism.

Other objects of my invention-will become more apparent after reviewai ofall the component parts and their method of operation as set forth in the description and the-claims-takenin con junction with the in cross-section of a control valve mechanism, in combination with a fluid'operated motor and a dispensing material pump, -embodying the ieatures of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional'view ofthe control valve mechanism for the control valve fluid motor employed todrive the control valve mechanism;

accompanying drawings, in

Figures'xs, i 6"; and are acrossssectionalviews;

respectively; taken alcng:theliness 5fifi-4-and Figured; plan viewxofia bcttom 'staltionary a in Figure 9;

the ="controli valve-mechanism; takenalong 1 around ztheistationary piston shaft of the 'dis -r pensingz. pump :to preventthe-motive fluid from-1 escaping from the top :cylinder chamber ofi'the main motor-anda packing 36 is employed-in ther bottom head 3 I to prevent-the motive fluid from": escaping from the bottom cylinder chamber f:

the main fiuid motor.- Theconstruction and;.oD-"- eration ofsmy-main fluid :motor -251Iand the: disa pensingupumpe Zi is suhstantiallyi .theisame-was that: shownv 'andi'describedrin :my pendin'g patent: applications-for Dispensing rv'pump -filed on the 1 Figure l iais atplaneview-vofcthe piniom'ge'a'r and a i,

shaft which is driven; by-the1roton of *the pi-lot fluid motor end-a which drives ithez' control avalve mechanism;

Figure '12'fshcws--aside!elevational viewaoiathet.

pinion .gear'and'shaftirifigure-s11 Figure-13 is a plan 1view ofithergear2 drivenwrotary :valve plateaoff'th'esvalve' mechanism;

Figure 14isra crossasectionali view ofithe gear I The fluid iundei; pressure such for example as 1 compressedjair; is supplied x by an inlet hose .44 1 i and entersthrough" a hoserfitting45' into the-valve chamber housing "68} which encloses. my control valve mechanism v21, and .iromwthere themain' ente'rssthemain fiuid:motor as directed -by;..:my

driven arotary valve?plate', :takeh-kgalongxsthe line:

of the cylinder-for: theemain moto'r -is 1 connected to (thefluid source randathe top: :chamb'er is exhausting-to atmosphere;

Figures 16. 'andw 17* are: crossesectional; views taken "alongithe-.lines l l I 5 and ll '!-l I ,'-.'respecttively-of Figure r Figurexm is ';a .plan'; view": ofirthet valve-rparts, t showing the valvepartsdn theireneutral-position-:

motor is arrested andriwhereethenpilot" fluid icontinues to receive by passedi'fiuid f'or continuously-4 driving-the control valve :mechanismp.

Figures 19 --and.. 20*- are; crossesectionalaviews control valve" mechanism 21. The compressed fliliallPOlYlCQVil'lguthe hose fitting 45 is'directedto drive" a pilot fluid motor. 52 before passing into the valve chamber housing.- The'pilot fluid motor 52' comprises generally a 'housing-iblock-z53 having; a rotor 1 54 therein and driven by I the: compressed -air-which enters the valve chamber hous- I ing: 68-. The housing. block '53 is shown inii ig ures=4 to '7, inclusive, and Figure 9. As shown Figure 9,'-a clearance is providedbetween the-tips of the 'rotorvanes and the insidewall of the housing in which :it rotates.

motor 52- through :the following passages; nameiv, a horizontal duct 64 in-the top-head 3ll-ofthe.

' main fluid :motor', a vertical duct 65 in the pilot ,;hcusing block53 and a. horizontal duct 156' in the piiot: housing block 53; The compressed 1 upon contacting the vanes 0f thewroton 54 causes Figure 21--'--is a plane. view :0! a the; valve 'iparts Y showing ther positionxrwhere theftop chamber of the cylindrv-"forz the main imotorris connected to the fluid source and' the bottom chamberts conenected to atmosphere: and? Figures 22 "Sand 523 are crosssectional views takenalong the-lines 12 -22: and :23 23 ,respec'- 'tively; of Figure 21; l v

with" reference to i the 4 drawings and particu valve -mechanism 'isgenerally indicated-my :the v reference character IT'andis arranged togovern the reciprocation :of a main fluid-motor: 25ewhich is arrangedto operate- '=-a I dispensing material pump BS -inserted intoaadrumifl supplied-kwith. the material to be? dispensedii- The- -main fluid motor 25 comprisescgenerallyra cylinder; ZQ' -having a top head rus andga b'ottomthead 3| within which reciprocatesa iston 32 whichareciprocall actuates ;adispensingrr-pump cylinder "33" in the material. to :be dispensed: pensing pump; piston 1 34: is securely attached to a the top head tl-andiisprovidedwith a'hlongi-j 65 zontal duct '42:.in thetop headconveys -matenal .to the discharge hose-*4 L A manual .bali' tudinal' bore-whichin conjunction with a horirelease-valve5 40 =is'3used: to ebleed airthrough a lie-illustrated. a dis- 7 vent 43 from; they discharged f-material, should the material pump rfbecome-= airbound after the: material lis-exhausted in' thedrum; Conventiona1 intake. and; discharge. valvesrfor controllin a the inlet of materials to thedispensing: pump and the discharge oi said materials are "shown as 31,

I parts closely together; A spring 15L rests underneatha bracket 51 having the left-hand end, thereof connectedjto the pilot fluid motor housing'block by means ofxscrewa 58 andhaving its right-hand end-.thereotI con-w nectedto the topihead 30 0! the main motor bythe same-to rotate in a counter-clockwise-direction'in Figure 9,- 'after which the air flows around the inside wall of the housing, where it'themexhauststhrough an exhaust'duct 61 intothevalve:

chamber housing 68" which secured to the top head 30 of the-main fluid motor bypmeans of screws between which a gasket-81 isinterposed to prevent leakage of thexcompressed air.

The rotor. 54 of :the pilot fluid-motor 52 r is arranged to -drive a pinion-shaft which-haste pinion Si secured to thejlower portion'thereof; v

The lower end-0f the pinion shaft cents in a bearing, hole 14 in the bcttom'stationary'valve plate 48. Asillustrated, the pinion EB-is'arranged to rotate the rotary valve plate '49 which is in terposed between the bottom. stationary valve;- plate and the top non-rotating valve plate 50.

The rotary valve plate is provided-aroundits periphery :with gear teeth which match the gear teethoofthe pinion whereby the rotationpfthe:

rotor; 54, as driven by the compressed air, rotates the rotary valve plate '49 'to control vthe flow "of.

the air to and from the mainfluid motor 25 through-ducts 46 and4l.for producinga'reciprocal movement to the pistonil- The engaging valve surfaces of the plates are'lap ed to provide a perfect seal and they are held flat against-each other by means or a'spring15i which'presses-the The upper end of the means'of screws 59, The screws 58which=ho1d the bracket 51 to the pi1ot.fluid motor housing 58 extend down through screw holes 'inithe said block, thence through openings 18' inrthe- The air after leaving the hose fitting is directed 'tothe pilot fluid i .i a an the movable element of the control valve is driven by a pilot fluid, motor which receives energyby Although I have described my ihvention with a certain degree of particularity,it is understood.

that the present disclosure has been made only b way .of example and that nurn'erou's'changes in the details of construction and the combina tion and arrangement oi parts may be resorted toi without departingfrom the spirit and .the1scope Iclaim army invention: 7 1. A.fluid motor'having a piston reciprocally of the invention ashe'reinaftercla'imedi mounted within a cylinder, a valve mechanism, governing the reciprocation" of'said pistongsaid valve mechanism being actuated .by... the fluid, which. recip ocates the said piston, said valve mechanism having by-pass means to vent fluid to atmosphere forpermitting said valve mechanism to continue to be actuated bysaid fluid when fthd flow of fluid to said piston is arrested by said valve-mechanism. v i

2. A motor actuated by compressed air,. said motor having a movableelement, said'movable element being propelled by said compressed air,

a valve mechanism for controlling the operation of said. movable element, said valvemechanism being actuated by the said compressed air, said valve mechanism having by-passmeans to vent compressed air to atmospherefor permitting said valve mechanism to continue to be actuated by said compressed air when the flow of compressed air to said movable element of the motor islar rested by said valve mechanism.

3 A control valve for directing fluid to a fluid motor, said fluid motor having a fluid actuated movable part, said control valve beingoperated by the fluid of saidfluid motor and controlling the operation of'said'movabl e part, said control valve having by-pass'means to vent fluid to atmosphere for permitting said control valve to continue to be actuated by sai fluid when the. flow of fluid to said movable part of the fluida motor is arrested by said control valve,

4. A control valvefjfor controllingthe of: fluid to a moving part of a fluidmotor, said control valve having ports for directing-, ther-fluid to and from the fluidmot'on. and said valve being actuated by thefluid' which operates said fluid motorand being entirely divorced 'irom mechanical connection with;sa i d moving part-of, said fluid motor, said controlvalve "having. by pass meansto vent fluid to atmosphere .for -permitting said control valveto continue to be act'uated by said fluid when. the flow offluid to said.

movable part of the fluidmotor. is arrested by said control valve upon the closure of a valve;

port thereof.

5. Fluid actuated controlvalve means for regulatt'ng the movement of a fiuid motor, said motor having a reciprocating pistonlocat'edfwithin a cylinder, said control valve being/actuated by the same fluid that moves the piston, saidcontrol valve having by-pass means to vent fluid to atmosphere for permitting said control valve to continue to be actuated bysajd fluid'whenthe.

flow of fluid to said piston is momentarily ar rested by said control valve "during the interval J the control valve is reversing the. direction of the fiow'of fluid to and from'opposite sides of saidf piston,

6. Fluid actuated controlvalve meansier regulating the movementof a main fluid motor, said control valve 'Ineanscomprising a movable valve part for directing the flowoi fluidto the main 5 'rnotor, and "apilot fluid motor having speed reducing means for ,,actuating the movable valve part at a slower speed than the speed of the pilot fluid motor, said control valve means having bypass nfians t vent fluid to atmosphere for peril) quitting said. pilot fluidmotorto continue to be fluid motor, speed reducing means interconnecting the pilot fluid motor and the movable valve part toopera'te-the movable 'valve part at a slower speedfthan' the speed of the pilot fluid motor,

said control valvemeans having by-pass means to vent fluid to atmosphere for permitting said control valve to continue to be actuated by said fluid when the flow of fluid to said fluid motor is arrested by said control valve.

8. Fluid actuated control valve means for regulating the'movement' of a main fluid motor, said control valve means comprising a movable valve part for'directing 'the'flow of fluid to the main motor and-a pilotfluid motor for actuating the movable valve part, said pilot fluid motor receiving. energy and being driven by the same fluid 'thatdrives the fluid motor, said control valve ,.sides oi a reciprocating piston, said'rotary valve mechanism comprising a movable valve part, a

pilot fluid motorfor actuating the movable valve the same fluid that actuats'the said piston, said meansfto ventcpmpressed air to atmosphere for permitting said pilot fluid motor to continue to be actuated by said compressed .air and drive said movable valve part whenithe flow of compressed air to said piston ,is momentarily arrested i 5;? by. said rotary valvefmechanism during the inj terval that the rotary valve mechanism is rev'el'sing'the direction of -theflowof compressed air to and from opposite sid s of said piston, 10. A valve for directing a pressure fluid to and from the opposite ends of a fluid piston motor, a pressure chamber enclosing said valve, a pilot motor having a housing with an opening and a shaft extendingthrough said opening, said ."1 extending into said pressure chamber, the open ing in the pilot motor housing thro'ugh'which the shaft extendsbeing' 'in' communication with said pressure'lchamber,the'pressure fluid passing through thepilot motor-and into said pressure 'chamber',-saidva1ve having by-Dass means to vent the pressure fluid to atmosphere from said pressure'fchamber for permitting the pilot motor part, said pilot fluid motor being actuated by rotary valve mechanism having by-pass port.

shaft being connecte to drive said, valve and and the"valve driven thereby to continueto be actuated by said fluid when th e flow ofthe fluid from the pressure chamber to the piston motor is arrested by said valve.

11. A valve control mechanism for directing the flow of fluid to and from opposite fluid chambers of a fluid motor comprising a fluid pressure housin a first stationary valve plate in the housing having at least two ducts disposed substantially 180 degrees apart for respectively providing communication to the opposite fluid chambers of the motor, a rotary valve plate resting against the first stationary valve plate and having an arcuate fluid communication extending substantially 170 degrees therearound to provide alternate fluid communication from the fluid pressure housing to the two ductsand the opposite fluid chambers of the motor, said rotar valve plate also having an arcuate groove extending substantially 170 degrees therearound next adjacent to the first stationary valve plate and having inwardly directed communicating means connecting the arcuate groove to'atmosphere, which in turn provides alternate communication from the two ducts and the opposite fluid chambers of the motor to atmosphere, a second stationary valve plate resting against the opposite side of the rotary valve platefrom the first stationary valve plate, said second stationary valve plate having two openings extending therethrough and disposed substantially 180 degrees apart with respect to each other and substantially 90 degrees apart from the two ducts, said rotary valve plate having a by-pass orifice extending from the inwardly directed communieating means and registering with the two openings of the second stationary valve plate upon the rotation of the rotary valve plate.

12. A valve control mechanism for directing the now of fluid to and from opposite fluid chambers of a fluid motor comprising a fluid pressure housing, a first stationary valve plate in the housing having at least two ducts disposed substantially 180 degrees apart for respectively providing communication to the opposite fluid chambers of the motor. a rotary valve plate resting against the first stationary valve plate and having an arcuate fluid communication extending substantially 170 degrees therearound to provide alternate fluid communication from the fluid pressure housing to thetwo ducts and the opposite fluid chambers of the motor, said rotary valve plate also having an arcuate groove extend ing substantially 170 degrees therearound' next adjacent to the first stationary valve plate and having inwardly directed communicating means connecting the arcuate groove to atmosphere, which in turn provides alternate communication from the two ducts and the opposite fluid cham. bers of the motor to atmosphere, a second sta tionary valve plate resting against the opposite side of the rotary valve plate from the first sta tionary valve plate, said second stationary valve plate having two openings extending the 1-- through and disposed substantially 180 deg ees apart with respect to each other and substantially 90 degrees apart from the two ducts, said rotary valve plate having a by-pass orifice extending from the inwardly directed communicating means and registering with the two open-, 

